It’s not always easy to read someone’s emotions — and that’s a problem for retailers, which can’t easily tell if their products intrigue you or simply confuse you. They may not have to guess for much longer, though, as Emotient has launched the private beta for a Google Glass app that identifies feelings using the device’s camera. The software scans faces for emotional cues that reflect an overall sentiment, even if it’s subtle; the app can tell if you’re mildly pleased, for instance. Privacy shouldn’t be an issue, since the app is only saving anonymous data, not images. Emotient is testing its app with just a handful of companies right now, but the finished app should help stores please customers in the future. There’s also a chance you’ll see the underlying technology in something you can try for yourself. The company tells The Next Web that its emotion detection will reach Intel’s RealSense platform, so don’t be surprised if your next webcam can tell that you’re in a good mood. Filed under: Wearables , Google , Intel Comments Via: The Next Web Source: Emotient

Excerpt from:
Emotient’s Google Glass app tells you how others are feeling

Spotify now owns The Echo Nest , better known as ” the company that powers the vast majority of internet radio .” That includes competing services like Pandora, Twitter Music, Rdio and more. But today’s news doesn’t necessarily mean that those services will lose support from Echo Nest’s API, as Spotify’s news announce today says, “The Echo Nest API will remain free and open to support its robust developer ecosystem.” The Echo Nest is staying in Somerville, Mass., with employees assuredly making Revolutionary War jokes every now and again to their Spotify counterparts in England. It’s not clear just yet what this will mean for Spotify Radio, but there’s this one oblique line about the acquisition’s potential impact: “The addition of The Echo Nest to Spotify will also strengthen Spotify’s ability to help brands and partners build amazing music experiences for their audiences.” Sure! Anyway, Spotify now owns the company that powers most of your internet radio. Take that as you will. Filed under: Software , Mobile Comments Source: Spotify

More:
Spotify just bought the company that powers most online radio

That death knell AMD has been ringing for DirectX? Microsoft’s having none of it. The software giant is now teasing the next version of the Windows graphics API, inviting developers to join it at GDC for the official reveal of DirectX 12. The splash page reveals little besides the version’s numeric and announcement time, but it does feature partner logos for Intel, Qualcomm, Nvidia and, of course, AMD. AMD’s disdain for the platform helped birth Project Mantle — a competing API that gives developers lower-level access (and as a result, more leverage over) PC graphics hardware. One of Microsoft’s GDC sessions suggest that something similar is in the works for its own development platform: “You asked us to bring you even closer to the metal… …so that you can squeeze every last drop of performance out of your PC, tablet, phone and console, ” reads the description for one of the firms DirectX presentations. “Come learn our plans to deliver.” It sure sounds similar, and indeed, it meshes well with recent rumors. Sources close to ExtremeTech say that while the two APIs will have different implementations , both should offer the same benefits. They also say that Microsoft’s “close to the metal” lower-level access API is a relatively new project in Redmond, meaning it probably won’t muscle in on Mantle’s territory until sometime next year. Between that, and the fact that Microsoft has recently taken to limiting Direct X upgrades to Windows upgrades , it’s possible that we might not see DirectX 12 in access until we’re installing Windows 9. Filed under: Gaming , Microsoft Comments Source: Microsoft , ExtremeTech

See the original article here:
Microsoft teases DirectX 12 reveal for GDC, rumors pit it against AMD’s Mantle